Today in History

The Mexican criminal syndicate Los Zetas kills 72 illegal immigrants from Central and South America in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Pluto is downgraded to a dwarf planet when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefines “planet.”

Chechnyan suicide bombers blow up two airliners near Moscow, killing 89 passengers.

Alexandre Coste, son of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and former air stewardess Nicole Coste.

Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) create initial accord regarding partial self-rule for Palestinians living on the West Bank, the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities.

Hurricane Andrew makes landfall in Florida. The Category 5 storm, which had already caused extensive damage in the Bahamas, caused $26.5 billion in US damages, caused 65 deaths, and felled 70,000 acres of trees in the Everglades.

Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union; Ukraine declares its independence from USSR.

Baseball commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti bans Pete Rose from baseball for gambling.

 Mark David Chapman sentenced to 20 years to life for murdering former Beatles band member John Lennon.

The principal leaders of Greece’s 1967 coup—Georgios Papadopoulos, Stylianos Pattakos, and Nikolaos Maarezos—sentenced to death for high treason, later commuted to life in prison.

Grey DeLisle-Griffin, voice-over actress in animated TV shows (The Fairly OddParents) and video games (Diablo III).

Reginald “Reggie” Miller, professional basketball player who set record for most career 3-point field goals (later superseded by Ray Allen); Olympic gold medalist.

Hideo Kojima, creator and director of video games (Metal Gear series).